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Blessings Chidakwa Municipal Reporter
The fate of former Harare City Council finance director Mr Tendai Kwenda and human resources director Dr Cainos Chingombe still hangs in the balance as their issue was yesterday withdrawn and referred to the office of the Mayor.
However, there was a proposal during deliberations for the appointment of a three-member team to negotiate exit packages for both Mr Kwenda and Dr Chingombe.
Councillors from both parties, the ruling Zanu PF, CCC and MDC-T attended yesterday’s full council meeting which was characterised by emotions.
Deputy Mayor councillor Luckson Mukunguma who made his debut appearance after being suspended had to be chucked out by CCC Mayor Jacob Mafume after questioning his ‘dictatorial’ chairing of the meeting.
The CCC councillors at some point had to turn the full council into a committee when they started discussing refuse collection issues with the Mayor having later on proposed for a Special Council scheduled for next week.
Zanu PF councillor Scott Sakupwanya had to offer the council his personal refuse trucks to collect piling garbage across the city.
“If you have shortages of trucks you can come and collect mine,” he said.
As for the return of Mr Kwenda the council defied a clear directive from the Local Government Board to reinstate him with full benefits.
At law after the council should reinstate him paving way for negotiations of an exit package.
Dr Chingombe wants to bounce back at Town House using a labour court ruling that said his contract was unlawfully terminated.
He had been suspended in 2017, before being reinstated in November 2020 and subsequently fired by council a few months later, a move he challenged.
Town House has already been thrown into disarray as councillors are divided over the decision to return Dr Chingombe.
Dr Chingombe has been embroiled in a legal battle with the local authority for years and his return has since caused divisions among the councillors with some fighting in his corner while others feel it is time for him to move on.
“Dr Chingombe served his time already. He should just do the noble thing and resign.
“There is nothing more he can offer now that he failed to offer when he was in office,” said a councillor who preferred anonymity.
Another councillor said the return of Dr Chingombe was good for the council.
“Remember he has the institutional memory that we want. Some of the challenges at council he actually knows what needs to be done.
“Other councillors are being emotional, but his return will actually be beneficial to the city,” said the councillor.
Before yesterday’s full council meeting our publication has it on good authority that during the last human resources committee meeting councillors locked horns over his issue.
“During our human resources meeting last week there was clear divisions over the return of Dr Chingombe.
“Among the votes, seven councillors voted in favour of his return while five voted against.
“So it is now left for the full council to determine his fate,” said a source who was part of the meeting.
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